Have a Question or a Problem?

We have the answers to a lot of your questions below, but if you're still stuck, feel free to drop us an email at info@secretbuilders.com. We do receive a lot of emails so please bear with us! We do respond to all our Builders!

I'm getting stuck on the "Loading" screen. What should I do?

If you're having problems logging into SecretBuilders and are getting stuck, try clearing your browser's cache. It's simple and easy to do! Just follow the simple steps below for the browser that you are using.

If you use Internet Explorer 6:

Click on Internet Explorer to open it up.

Click on the "Tools" menu.

Click on "Internet Options."

A small box will pop up on your screen. The first page in the box should be labeled "General." Look on this page for a section marked "Temporary Internet Files."

Click on "Delete Files."

A small box might pop up that asks if you want to delete all offline content. That's okay to do. Click the small box to check "Delete All Offline Content." Then click "OK."

Click "OK" again.

To make sure your cache is clear, close your web browser and open it up again. Then log onto SecretBuilders.

If you use Internet Explorer 7:

Click on Internet Explorer to open it up.

Click "Tools" on the menu bar.

Click on "Internet Options."

A small box will pop up on your screen. The first page in the box should be labeled "General." Look on this page for a section marked "Browser History."

Click on the "Delete" button.

A window will pop up with the heading "Temporary Internet Files". Click "Delete Files." Then click "Yes."

Click "Close" at the bottom of window. Then click "Okay" to close the internet options window.

To make sure your cache is clear, close your web browser and open it up again. Then log onto SecretBuilders.

If you use Safari 2.0:

Click on Safari to open it up.

Look at the top of the screen. Click on the word "Safari."

Click on "Preferences."

Click on "Empty Cache."

A little box will pop up asking if you are sure you want to empty your cache. Click "Empty."

To make sure your cache is clear, close your web browser and open it up again. Then log onto SecretBuilders.

If you use Firefox:

Click on Firefox to open it up.

Look at the top of the screen. Click on "Tools."

Click on "Options."

Click on "Privacy."

Make sure the box next to "Cache" is checked.

Click "Clear."

To make sure your cache is clear, close your web browser and open it up again. Then log onto SecretBuilders.

What is an avatar?

An avatar, or character, is basically a three-dimensional illustration of you in this world. You have the ability to select and customize the avatar to represent how you would like to be seen by other players. You can explore SecretBuilders by using your avatar.

How do I select, customize and change my avatar?

When you first register with SecretBuilders, you will be asked to select an avatar that you can fully customize. Your avatar can also be changed at any time by first logging into your account. Once you login, you will see the 'Change My Avatar' icon in the upper left-hand corner of the toolbar. Clicking on the icon will take you to the 'Customize your Avatar' page. You can now change the look and color of your avatar's head/face, bottoms and tops. You can even allow SecretBuilders to randomly choose an avatar for you. Once you are finished changing your avatar, be sure to click the 'Done' button on the bottom left-hand corner.

What games can I play and how do I access them?

There are a bunch of fun games that can be played on SecretBuilders. To access the games, click on the 'Games & Activities' icon in the toolbar, which looks like a video game controller. You will see a list of game categories to choose from:

Within each game category there are many great games that you can play. Playing games is a great way to earn SecretBuilders money called Silver coins (Shills). You can even challenge your buddies to a multiplayer game to see who can get the highest score!

How do I move around in SecretBuilders?

Moving your avatar around in SecretBuilders is easy. Use your computer's mouse to click where you want to go and the avatar will move to that location. If you want to enter into a particular room in SecretBuilders, move the cursor to the room and click on it. The avatar then moves towards the room and enters into it. To navigate to different lands in SecretBuilders, click the 'World Map' icon and choose where you would like to go.

How do I use the toolbar?

The toolbar is locating along the top part of the screen. The toolbar icons provide you with access to many SecretBuilders features. Clicking on the toolbar icons allows you to access details about your avatar, navigate to SecretBuilders features, see who else is online, track the amount of Silver coins (Shills) you have, access games and activities, take quests and more. For more information about what each toolbar icon does, you can search the FAQ for details.

Who's Online Right Now
When you click on 'Who's Online Right Now' a pop-up appears with a list in alphabetical order of all the Builders online. This is great way to see if your buddies are on SecretBuilders.

Shop
You can buy spell cards, pets and furniture for your home from the 'Shop' by using your available Silver coins (Shills).

Change My Avatar
An avatar, or character, is basically a three-dimensional illustration of you in the SecretBuilders world. You have the ability to select and customize the avatar to represent how you would like to be seen by other players. You can change the look and color of your avatar's head/face, bottoms and tops. You can even allow SecretBuilders to randomly choose an avatar for you.

Home
When you click on the 'Home' icon you are taken to your SecretBuilders home. This is your personal space that you can customize with furniture and paint any color you want.

Bag O' Silver coins (Shills)
The 'Bag O' Silver coins (Shills)' shows how many Silver coins (Shills) you have. Silver coins (Shills) are SecretBuilders money that you can use to buy various items such as spells, furniture and pets.

Quests
Quests are cool adventures that you can take to solve a puzzle or find a missing item. When you are in quest mode, use the TumTum Board to transport yourself. Once you successfully complete a quest you will be rewarded with some Silver coins (Shills) and an item that you can use in future quests.

World Map
To navigate to different lands in SecretBuilders, click the 'World Map' icon and choose where you would like to go. SecretBuilders currently has three lands that you can visit: Haunted Valley, Enchanted Woods and Treasure Island.

Games & Activities
There are a bunch of fun games that can be played on SecretBuilders. Playing games is a great way to earn SecretBuilders money called Silver coins (Shills). You can even challenge your buddies to a multiplayer game to see who can get the highest score!

The Crooked Pencil
'The Crooked Pencil' is SecretBuilders online magazine where you can publish your writings. You can also read and comment on submissions by other players.

Build It!
'Build It!' gives you the chance to help build our virtual world. You can do this by providing us with your great ideas for building new lands, places, quests, games, activities and puzzles. You can also tell us what you think of existing SecretBuilders features. We would love to hear about your creative ideas!

Contests
SecretBuilders offers art and writing contests where you can display your creativity. Each contest offers great prizes including toys, cash, Silver coins (Shills) and recognition on SecretBuilders. Some contests also give winners the opportunity to display their winning entry as part of the SecretBuilders world. Writing contests winners will be published in 'The Crooked Pencil', the SecretBuilders online magazine.

Sound On/Off
You can turn the sound on or off in SecretBuilders.

Help
The 'Help' feature provides you with answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) and access to the tutorial. If you have a question about a certain feature, click 'Help' to find the answer to your question.

Citizen's Patrol
If you feel that another player has broken SecretBuilders rules you can report them to the moderator. To report another player simply click the 'Citizen's Patrol' icon, which will take you to the 'Report A User' form.

One For All
By playing SecretBuilders charity project 'One For All', you will be directly helping with important environmental and social causes. You will be challenged by playing 'Mathletics', 'Word Play' or 'Cool Logic'. Each time you correctly answer a question a small donation is raised. The more questions you answer correctly, the more money you raise. Not only will you be helping others, you will also help yourself to become a better student.

How do I customize my home?

Click the 'Home' icon in the toolbar. You will be taken to your home where you can customize your home by using the toolbar in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. The 'Arrange Room' icon will allow you to place furniture wherever you want in your room and arrange and rotate it. When you first buy furniture it is placed in your storage. Click the 'My Storage' icon to see all your furniture and to place it into your home. Furniture can put back in storage by clicking the 'Put In Storage' icon. To paint your home, click the 'Paint Home' icon. Choose from a palette of colors to design a home with your own unique style.

How do I invite buddies to my home and visit my buddy's homes?

Your buddies can be invited to your home by buzzing them through your 'Avatar Player Card'. To visit your buddy's home, click on their avatar. In your buddy's 'Avatar Player Card', click on the 'Home' icon to go to their home.

How do I earn and spend SecretBuilders money?

SecretBuilders money is called Silver coins (Shills). You can earn Silver coins (Shills) through participating in activities, completing quests, playing games, entering contests and answering questions on 'One For All'. Each activity, quest and game can earn you different amounts of Silver coins (Shills). The amount of Silver coins (Shills) that you have earned is displayed in your toolbar. Silver coins (Shills) can be used to buy spells, pets and furniture for your home. Spending Silver coins (Shills) is easy. Just click the 'Shop' icon in the toolbar.

What are spells and how do I get them and cast them?

Spells are actions that give you magical powers that you can cast on your buddies. You can buy spells by clicking the 'Shop' icon in the toolbar. Then click 'Magic Shop' for a list of available spells with details about what the spell does and how many Silver coins (Shills) it costs.

To cast a spell on a buddy, click on their avatar. Then click on the 'Magic' icon in their 'Avatar Player Card' to choose a spell to cast. Watch as your buddy turns into a frog or a rodent or gets rained on!

What is a quest and how do I go on one?

Quests are cool adventures that you can take to solve a puzzle or find a missing item. Action, adventure, mystery and magic are just some of the experiences awaiting you on a quest. When you are in quest mode, use the TumTum Board to transport yourself. Once you have successfully completed a quest you will be rewarded with some Silver coins (Shills) and an item that you can use in future quests. To see a list of quests click the 'Quests' icon in the toolbar. If you get stuck in a quest use the 'Quest Hints' to help you find the way.

What can I buy from the SecretBuilders Shop?

You can buy spell cards, pets and furniture for your home using your available Silver coins (Shills). Click the 'Shop' icon in the toolbar to start shopping. Shop

How do I participate in a contest and what are the prizes?

SecretBuilders art and writing contests allow you to win great prizes. To enter a contest simply click the 'Contests' icon in the toolbar. A list of current contests that you can enter will be displayed. Each contest offers great prizes including toys, cash, Silver coins (Shills) and recognition in the SecretBuilders world. Some contests also give winners the opportunity to display their winning entry as part of the SecretBuilders world. Writing contests winners will be published in 'The Crooked Pencil', the SecretBuilders online magazine.

What is the Avatar Player Card?

The 'Avatar Player Card' tells you information about yourself or another player. By clicking on your avatar, you can see your own player card. Your 'Avatar Player Card' allows you to customize your avatar, perform silly actions, buy spells, view a list of your buddies, send SecretBuilders Mail or go to your home.

To see another Builder's 'Avatar Player Card', click on their avatar. If you want to cast a spell on another player, click the 'Magic' icon. A list of available spells that you can choose will appear. You can also visit another Builder's home if you are on their buddy list by clicking the home icon.

What are Silver coins (Shills) and how do I earn them?

Silver coins (Shills) are SecretBuilders money that you can use to buy various items such as spells, furniture and pets. The 'Bag O' Silver coins (Shills)' icon in the toolbar shows how many Silver coins (Shills) you have. You can earn Silver coins (Shills) by going on quests, playing games, answering questions on 'One For All', submitting 'Build It!' ideas and entering contests.

Where do I keep my stuff and how do I access it?

Your stuff is kept in 'My Stuff', which can be accessed by clicking the 'My Stuff' icon in your 'Avatar Player Card'. The icon looks like a backpack. 'My Stuff' has lists of the following things:

Items

Spell Cards

Treasures

What is the The Crooked Pencil magazine and how can I contribute to it?

'The Crooked Pencil' is SecretBuilders online magazine where you can publish your writings and read submissions by other players. Your writings can include tales, poems, jokes, plays, school reports and reviews about books, movies, games or anything else that interests you.

To go to the online magazine click 'The Crooked Pencil' icon in the toolbar. To submit a story, click the 'Submit Your Story' button. Choose the category of your story, type the title and then enter your story in the space provided. When you are finished, click the 'Submit Now' button. Other players will now be able to read and comment on your work.

What is Build It! and how do I participate in it?

'Build It!' gives you the opportunity to help build the SecretBuilders world. You can do this by providing us with your great ideas for building new lands, places, quests, games, activities and puzzles. You can also tell us what you think of existing features. Simply click the 'Build It' icon in the toolbar to submit your ideas and comments. You can earn Silver coins (Shills) for your 'Build It!' ideas. We can't wait to hear about your new and unique ideas!

How do I chat with someone?

SecretBuilders has a couple different types of chats. All chats are monitored for safety and appropriate language. Type in your text in the chat window at the bottom of the page and click 'Send' or press enter. Free chat allows you type in your comment, question or answer to another player. Bubbles with writing will appear over your avatar's head. While you are chatting you can also use emotions icons, or emoticons, to express your feelings. The emotions icons will appear over your avatar head. Safe chat is also available, with pre-scripted questions and comments that you click on to express your thoughts.

Who are the famous characters and how do I interact with them?

SecretBuilders has many famous characters from world history, science, arts and literature. Famous characters include: Alice in Wonderland, Copernicus, Einstein, Macbeth, Oliver Twist, Shakespeare, Sherlock Holmes and many other interesting personalities. You can interact with famous characters by clicking their avatar, which will open their 'Avatar Player Card'. You can chat with famous characters, read their profile or visit their home.

What activities can you do in the different lands?

There are currently three lands that you can visit: Haunted Valley, Treasure Island and Enchanted Woods. Within each land there are different activities, games, features and AI characters that you can interact with. The more you explore, the more you will discover!

How do I go to different places in SecretBuilders?

It's easy to go to different places in SecretBuilders. Click the 'World Map' icon in the toolbar to open a map of various SecretBuilders lands that you can visit. Click the land that you want to go to and you will be transported there. If you want to enter into a particular room in SecretBuilders, move the cursor to the room and click on it. The avatar will then move towards the room and enter into it.

How do I make friends in SecretBuilders?

Making friends in SecretBuilders is fun and easy. Click on another Builders avatar to open their 'Avatar Player Card'. Now click on the 'Make Buddy' icon to add that person to your buddy list.

Talk Nicely: SecretBuilders will not tolerate racial or sexual comments, references to drugs and alcohol, or other inappropriate comments made on the site or directed at another player.

Violations of these rules may result in temporary suspension from SecretBuilders.
SecretBuilders chat undergoes a sophisticated filtering process and is monitored to ensure safety. Some messages may get through the filters and may be offensive to some players. The 'Citizen's Patrol' will allow players to report violation of rules by other players. 'Citizen's Patrol' may be accessed by all users from within SecretBuilders by clicking on the 'Citizen's Patrol' icon on the toolbar.

How can I be safe in SecretBuilders?

SecretBuilders takes its users safety and security very seriously. We have ensured a safe online environment for children by monitoring all activities, chats and any inappropriate behavior. We will screen for language and content as well as personal information, in both public and personal spaces, that may reveal your identity. If you have any problems with another player engaged in inappropriate behavior, you can use 'Citizen's Patrol' to report them.
Please see our Privacy and Security Policy (http://secretbuilders.com/privacy.html) for more details.

What do I do if another player said something inappropriate to me in the chat?

If you feel that another Builder has broken SecretBuilders rules you can report them to the moderator. To report another player simply click the 'Citizen's Patrol' icon, which will take you to the 'Report A User' form. Select the reason you a reporting the player, the name of the player and details about their inappropriate behavior. You can report another player for using bad words, bullying, revealing personal information, cheating or other behavior that you feel is inappropriate.

What does Citizen's Patrol do and when should I use it?

'Citizen's Patrol' should be used if you feel that another Builder has broken SecretBuilders rules. To report another player simply click the 'Citizen's Patrol' icon, which will take you to the 'Report A User' form. Select the reason you a reporting the player, the name of the player, and details about their inappropriate behavior. You can report another player for using bad words, bullying, revealing personal information, cheating or other behavior that you feel is inappropriate.

How do I log out of SecretBuilders?

To log out of SecretBuilders simply close your web browser. Or click on the SecretBuilders logo at the top of the website.